raced wide, held up in rear, pushed along 4 out, soon struggling, tailed off after 3 out
held up towards rear, steady headway from 3 out, chasing leading pair when ridden and hit 2 out, no impression after, hit last
chased winner until ridden and weakened before 2 out, tailed off
chased leaders, blundered badly 5th, headway to chase winner before 2 out, about 2 lengths down when ridden and hung right before last, continued to edge right and kept on same pace run-in
made virtually all, about 2 lengths clear when hit last, stayed on strongly run-in
behind, ridden and struggling after 3 out, tailed off when hit 2 out
held up in touch, headway 6th, ridden and weakened after 3 out
in touch, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, struggling after, tailed off
in touch, headway and pushed along after 3 out, weakened 2 out
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A good race complicated by the presence of multiple runners from a couple of stables that have both done well in this race in recent seasons. CHIEF YEOMAN may be the answer and is preferred to Elusive Dream and Star Of Angels. The selection had shown all of his best form at around the minimum prior to last season where he found new reserves of stamina which saw him win over this distance at Sandown from a mark that's just 1lb lower than that from which he lines up today. He was entitled to need his run at Aintree and jockey bookings would appear to suggest that he's the pick of the Williams quartet. Andytown merits consideration but it could be that the handicapper has his measure whilst this could prove to be too demanding a test of stamina for the four year olds Bouggler and Stow. Star Of Angels was kept to competitive company prior to opening his account at Stratford in May and he may well have more to offer on his return to action. He lines up on a nice racing weight and looks interesting. Elusive Dream has been given a chance by the handicapper and could well return to somewhere near his best whilst Nampour looked well worth a try at this trip when staying on stoutly at Newbury. The trip holds no fears for Ellerslie George whose latest chase win has worked out well suggesting that an 8lb rise is fair enough but he has to prove just as effective back over the smaller obstacles which can't be guaranteed. An interesting heat which may fall to Chief Yeoman.
Ashkazar (FR) 33-1 (11-8) Led reluctantly, driven along before 5th, headed soon after 3 out, soon beaten, 6th of 7, 34l behind Khyber Kim (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hdl G2 (1) sft.
Andytown (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway from 4 out, every chance when hit 2 out, ridden and weakened soon after, 9th of 12, 18l behind Lie Forrit (9-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp hdl (1) sft in Nov.
Elusive Dream 25-1 (11-6) In touch, chased leaders 3 out, gradually weakened, 5th of 10, 35l behind Ballyfitz (11-1) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) hvy.
Bouggler 7-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, ridden 7th, ridden when mistake 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Trenchant (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Nov.
Golan Way 12-1 (11-6) Led until mistake and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Zaynar (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hdl G2 (1) sft, 6 ran.
Nampour (FR) 15-2 (10-13) Held up, ridden approaching 3 out, headway 2 out, stayed on from last, 4th of 12, 6l behind Fairyland (10-8) at Newbury 2m listed hcp hdl 0-145 (1) gs in Nov.
Quickbeam (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, fell next, in a race won by Le Beau Bai (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) hvy, 14 ran.
Stow 11-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along after 4th, lost position when fell next, in a race won by Royal Charm (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f 4yo hcp hdl (2) hvy, 6 ran.
Chief Yeoman 9-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 8, 12l behind John Forbes (10-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Nov.
Our Vic (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Led until took wrong course and ran out on bend after 3rd, in a race won by Poquelin (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grade 3 (4yo+) (1) sft, 17 ran.
Souffleur 40-1 (11-5) Ridden and mistake 8th, always behind, 14th of 15, 49l behind Time For Rupert (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m Handicap Hurdle (0-155) (4yo+) (2) sft.
Ellerslie George (IRE) 14-1 (10-2) Always prominent, led approaching 7th, clear before 10th, stayed on strongly, won at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov beating The Tother One (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 18 ran.
Aachen 2-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, hit 3 out, effort and hit 2 out, weakened and left 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 28l behind Tataniano (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Star Of Angels 1-5fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, hit 6th, went second next, led after 3 out, clear 2 out, mistake last, eased towards finish, won at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct beating Squinch (11-0) by 6l, 8 ran.
